Director of Development

The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Central Florida Board of Trustees seeks a Development Director I for the College of Sciences to lead major gift fundraising and donor engagement. You will manage a portfolio of prospects, design strategies, and secure gifts to advance COS initiatives.

Collaborating with the Dean and leadership, you will drive growth, steward relationships, and ensure CRM effectiveness to support UCF's mission. This on-site role offers growth and impact.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's or Master's degree and 6+ years of relevant experience.
• Proven track record in identifying, cultivating, and closing major gifts.
• Experience as frontline fundraiser or gift officer in higher education or related field.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects/donors with a focus on individuals.
• Design and implement fundraising strategies supporting COS and UCF.
• Conduct face-to-face visits and develop donor-centered proposals to secure major gifts.
• Collaborate with the Dean and division leadership to expand the fundraising pipeline.
• Ensure effective use of prospect management tools and the CRM database.
• Acknowledge and recognize gifts in alignment with strategic plan and values.

Skills

Donor relationship building

Fundraising strategy

Communication

Sales/solicitation

CRM proficiency

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree

6+ years of relevant experience

Tools

Blackbaud

Salesforce

Raiser's Edge

Job description

Advancement & Partnerships:

Join our dynamic and growing Advancement & Partnerships team as we work together to power partnerships and transform lives through philanthropy.

Together, we can unleash the potential of people and ideas to positively change the world. Your efforts on our team will help us to build the University for the Future.

The Opportunity :

The Director of Development for the College of Sciences (COS) is responsible for securing major gifts of $25,000+ by cultivating, soliciting, and stewarding alumni, parents, friends, and community partners. This position plays a pivotal role in advancing the college's priorities and UCF's mission by building meaningful relationships with current and prospective donors.

The Director will independently manage a portfolio of major gift donors, develop and implement fundraising strategies, and partner with the Dean, faculty, and leadership to drive philanthropic growth for COS initiatives.

Responsibilities:

• Manage a portfolio of major gift prospects/donors, with a focus on individuals, through discovery, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship.
• Design and implement fundraising strategies that support the needs and priorities of COS and UCF.
• Conduct face-to-face visits and develop donor-centered proposals to secure major gifts.
• Collaborate with the Dean and division leadership to expand the fundraising pipeline and strengthen engagement of advisory board members.
• Ensure effective use of prospect management tools, research, contact reports, and our CRM database.
• Acknowledge and recognize gifts in ways that are meaningful to donors and aligned with UCF's strategic plan, vision, and values.
• Maintain best practices in office systems, records, acknowledgments, and stewardship activities.
• Perform related duties as required to advance the college's fundraising success.

Minimum Qualifications :

• Bachelor's or Master's degree and 6+ years of relevant experience; or an equivalent combination of education and experience pursuant to Fla. Stat. 112.219(6) .

Preferred Qualifications :

• Demonstrated experience identifying, cultivating, and closing major gifts of $25,000 or more from individual donors.
• Experience as a frontline fundraiser, gift officer, nonprofit development professional, or similar relationship-driven revenue generation role.
• Experience in higher education advancement, nonprofit fundraising, healthcare philanthropy, alumni engagement, or a related fundraising environment.
• Experience building and managing donor, prospect, client, or partner relationships through a portfolio-based engagement cycle.
• Experience developing donor-centered proposals, gift agreements, or persuasive fundraising materials.
• Proficiency with Blackbaud, Salesforce, Raiser's Edge, or comparable fundraising, donor management, or CRM platforms.
• Ability to travel in and out of state for meetings and events as needed.

The most successful candidates may possess the following qualities:

• Strong communication, active listening, and relationship-building skills, with the ability to engage a variety of donor and partner audiences.
• Demonstrated initiative, resilience, and self-motivation in a goal-oriented fundraising or revenue-generating environment.
• Strategic thinker with excellent organizational skills, able to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Familiarity with or interest in UCF, College of Sciences, STEM-related fields, or university advancement.

Special Instructions to the Applicants:

The anticipated salary for a well-qualified candidate is between $85,000-$100,000. Advancement and Partnerships values the unique contributions that each team member brings to our division. The final determination of a successful candidate's starting salary will vary based on several factors, including education and relevant experience. The anticipated pay scale indicated for this position generally applies to candidates who meet the minimum requirements and several of the preferred qualifications outlined above. All offers are contingent on successful background and reference screens.

All applicants must be authorized to work for any U.S. employer. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position, and the university cannot accommodate H‑1B transfers or employment-based visa processing for individuals currently sponsored by another employer.

Classification Title: Development Director I

This role requires the successful candidate to work on-site at UCF as their primary work location. On-site presence is an essential function of this role.

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